Snapshot: Also called “eyelash grass,” blue grama grass is a very tough, drought- and heat-resistant California native. Blonde Ambition is the showiest variety of this popular turf alternative; the flowers and seeds of this sun-loving, warm-season grass are even bigger than the straight species. The leaves are a deep blue-green (hence the name). For native landscapes with low water, you will not be disappointed in blue grama grass’s fluffy late summer display of buff-colored flowers that hang around well into fall. You can see specimens in the arboretum’s Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California native plants on the UC Davis campus.